Some of the new suggestions of the NEP include providing infrastructure support, creating innovative education center to reintegrate dropouts into the mainstream, tracking students and their learning levels, providing multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes, partnering with schools to employ counsellors or trained social workers, offering open learning for classes 3, 5 and 8 through NIOS and State Open Schools, secondary education programs equivalent to Grades 10 and 12, adult literacy courses, and life-enrichment programs.
On July 29, 2020, the National Education Policy 2020 was unveiled. Several changes to higher education, including technical education, are suggested by the National Education Policy 2020. The National Education Policy 2020 mentions several initiatives and action items that should be implemented in both higher education and schools.
Key Highlights of NEP 2020
- The new policy seeks to achieve 100% GER in school education from preschool to secondary level by 2030.
- NEP 2020 aims to reintegrate 2 crore out-of-school children back to the mainstream.
- A new 5+3+3+4 school curriculum that includes 3 years of Anganwadi/preschool and 12 years of formal education.
- A strong focus on foundational literacy and numeracy; there is no strict division in schools between academic, extracurricular, and vocational programs; class 6 is where vocational education begins, along with internships.
- Teaching in mother tongue or a regional language up to at least Grade 5.
- A 360-degree Holistic Progress Card that tracks student progress toward meeting learning objectives is part of the assessment reforms.
- 3.5 crore additional seats in higher education; GER to be increased to 50% by 2035 Higher Education curriculum to have Flexibility of Subjects.
- Several entries and exits are permitted with the proper certification.
- To enable the Transfer of Credits, an Academic Bank of Credits will be formed.
- To promote a robust research culture, the National Research Foundation will be founded.
- There is only one regulator for higher education, with four different verticals for different functions; the regulations are light yet rigorous. In 15 years, the Affiliation System will be phased down, giving colleges varying degrees of autonomy.
- The National Educational Technology Forum will be established; NEP 2020 promotes greater use of technology with fairness.
- NEP 2020 places a strong emphasis on creating Special Education Zones and a Gender Inclusion Fund for underprivileged areas and populations.
- A new policy encourages multilingualism in higher education and in schools; an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation and a National Institute for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit will be established.